Licentious
/laɪˈsenʃəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Licentious means not following moral rules, especially about sexual behavior. It describes someone who acts in a way that many people think is wrong or improper because they do not control their desires or actions.
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See It in Action
Showing lack of moral control, especially about sexual behavior
- •The novel described the licentious lifestyle of the rich and famous.
- •He was criticized for his licentious behavior at the party.
- •Licentious actions often lead to social problems or gossip.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "licentious" like "bad" behavior, but focused on ignoring moral or social rules about personal actions.
- ✓Picture someone acting freely without thinking about limits or what others consider right or wrong.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone breaks important social rules about behavior, especially about relationships or personal freedom.
- ✓Sounds like "lie-SEN-shus" → imagine someone lying about their sense (sense = good judgment), so they act without control.
- ✓In stories, licentious characters often cause problems because they ignore rules and act only for pleasure.
- ✓NOT like "free" (which can be positive and respectful), licentious means free in a way that is careless or wrong.
- ✓NOT like "wild" (which can be fun or energetic), licentious is about ignoring moral limits, especially about sex.
- ✓NOT like "immoral" (general bad behavior), licentious is more specific to uncontrolled, improper personal desires.
Try Other Words
- •Immoral: not following moral rules (Use when talking about general bad behavior)
- •Promiscuous: having many sexual partners without care (Use when focusing only on sexual behavior)
- •Unrestrained: not controlled or limited (Use when emphasizing lack of control in behavior generally)
- •Wild: uncontrolled and energetic (Use when behavior is energetic but not necessarily immoral)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: no clear prefix, root from Latin "licentia" meaning "freedom," suffix "-ous" meaning "full of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "licentiosus," meaning free or unrestrained, especially in behavior
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe people acting without moral restraint, especially sexually
- •Modern usage: Usually describes behavior or lifestyle that ignores social or moral rules, often with a negative meaning
Reflect & Connect
•How does society decide what behavior is licentious and what is acceptable freedom?
•Can licentious behavior ever be positive, or is it always seen as negative? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.People who live a licentious life often ___ social or moral rules about behavior.
2.Licentious behavior is usually criticized because it shows a lack of ___ or control.
3.Unlike free behavior, licentious actions ignore ___ limits and can cause problems.
4.The story described a character whose licentious choices led to ___ in their community.
5.When someone is called licentious, it usually refers to their ___ desires or actions.
6.Licentious is different from wild because it focuses on ___, not just energy or excitement.
7.In history, licentiousness was often seen as a threat to ___ order and values.